Page 113 - Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology

2012 U.S. NET IMPORT RELIANCE ON SELECTED NON-FUEL MINERAL COMMODITIES

COMMODITY ORE MINERAL Percent
(Element, Ore, or or Import WHAT IS THIS COMMODITY USED FOR?
Raw Mineral) RAW MINERAL Reliance
Fluorine ore (F): Fluorite 100 Fluorine is used in fluoride toothpaste, fluorocarbon refrigerant gases and
fluorspar fire extinguishers, and fluoropolymer plastics that coat non-stick fry pans
and insulate wiring in cell phones, laptops, and airplanes.
Graphite (C) Graphite 100 Used to make carbon steel, pencils, carbon fiber reinforced plastics in car
bodies, and negative ends of most batteries (including those in all cell
phones, power tools, computers, and hybrid/electric vehicles).
Indium metal (In) Sphalerite with In 100 Indium is used to make solar cells, and liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) in cell
as an impurity phones, computers, and flat-screen television sets.
Mica (sheet) Muscovite 100 Muscovite is used in heating elements of hair dryers and toasters, joint
compound, and cosmetics with a satiny or glittery sheen.
Quartz crystal Quartz var. rock 100 Crystals of cultured pure quartz are used to make quartz watches and the
(industrial) crystal frequency controls and timers in every computer and cell phone.
Niobium metal Columbite (in 100 Niobium is used to make high-strength non-corrosive steel alloys (for jet
(Nb, “columbium”) “coltan”) engines, power plants) and arc welding rods, plus electrical insulation
coatings in cell phones, computers, and electronic games.
Tantalum metal Tantalite (in 100 Tantalum is used to make “tantalum capacitors” that buffer the flow of
(Ta) “coltan”) electricity between a battery and electronic parts in the circuits of cell
phones, laptops, iPods, and most other electrical devices.
Gallium metal Bauxite is Ga ore 99 Gallium is used to make light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs and liquid-crystal
(Ga) displays (LCDs) in things like cell phones, computers, and flat-screen
television sets.
Vanadium metal Magnetite with V 96 Vanadium is used for cutting tools; mixed with iron to make lightweight
(V) as an impurity shock-resistant steel for car axles and gears, springs, and cutting tools.
Bismuth metal Galena with Bi as 92 Bismuth is used as a nontoxic replacement for lead (in ceramic glazes,
(Bi) an impurity fishing sinkers, food processing equipment, plumbing, and shot for hunting)
and in antidiarrheal medications.
Barium metal ore Barite 80 Barium (Ba) is widely used to make capacitors (that store energy) and
(Ba) memory cells in cell phones and other portable electronic devices.
Zinc metal (Zn) Sphalerite is an 72 Zinc is used to make alloys like brass, skin-healing creams, and galvanized
ore of Zn (rust-proof) steel and roofing nails; added to vitamin pills for a healthy
immune system and to aid protein production.
Chromium metal Chromite is an ore 70 Chromium is used to make stainless steel, yellow and green ceramic glazes
(Cr) of Cr and paints, and military camouflage paints; added to vitamin pills for healthy
metabolism and lower cholesterol levels.
Garnet (industrial) Garnet 65 Industrial garnet is used as an abrasive in things like sandpaper and
sandblasting.
Silver metal (Ag) Native silver; Galena 57 Silver is used to make jewelry and silverware, photographic film, and solder
with Ag as an impurity on electrical circuit boards of computers and cell phones.
Nickel metal (Ni) Pyrrhotite contains Ni 49 Nickel is used to make rechargeable batteries (Ni-Cd) for portable electronic
as an impurity devices, screw-end caps of light bulbs, and stainless steel.
Magnesium Dolomite and 46 Magnesium is used to make strong, lightweight frames for jet engines and
metal (Mg) Olivine are Mg ores rockets, lightweight cell phone and laptop cases, and incendiary flares and
bombs; added to vitamin pills to aid good brain and muscle function and
strengthen bones.
Tungsten metal Wolframite is W 42 Tungsten is a dense metal that makes cell phones and pagers vibrate (by
(W) ore attaching it to an electric motor spinning off center); also used for light bulb
filaments, golf clubs, and tungsten carbide cutting tools.
Copper metal Azurite, Bornite, 35 Copper is used to make copper pipes; electrical wire for homes, businesses,
(Cu) Chalcopyrite, electric motors, and circuit boards in cell phones and other electrical
Chrysocolla, and devices. Hybrid cars contain about 100 pounds (45 kg) of copper. Added to
Malachite are Cu ores vitamin pills for healthy hair and skin.
Aluminum (Al) Bauxite is Al ore 20 Aluminum is a lightweight silvery metal used to make drink cans, foil,
airplanes, and solar panels.
Salt Halite 19 Used as table salt, road salt (to melt snow), in water softeners, and as a food
preservative.
Sulfur (S) Native Sulfur; 19 Used to make matches, gunpowder, fertilizer, fungicide, insecticide, and
Pyrite is a S ore harden rubber (car tires).
Gypsum Gypsum 12 Used to make Plaster-of-Paris, drywall and for art (alabaster).
Iron metal (Fe), Geothite, Limonite, 11 Iron and steel are used to construct machines, buildings, bridges, nails,
Steel Magnetite, and Hematite bolts, tools, file cabinets; iron is added to vitamin pills to aid hemoglobin
are Fe ores production in red blood cells for oxygen transport.
Cement Calcite 7 Calcite is processed into cement, which is used to make concrete.

FIGURE 3.22 Selected Net Non-Fuel Mineral Resource Imports by the United States in 2012. This list includes only some of

the mineral resources reported in USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2013 . Net import reliance is the total of U.S. production and
imports, minus the percentage of exports. (Adapted from USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2013)
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